The problem with drink

Over the past 30 years there has been a steady increase in the availability and affordability of alcoholic drinks in the UK. This has been associated with a dramatic increase in alcohol‐related harm, involving premature death, chronic health problems and social ills. These adverse outcomes are not inevitable. They could be avoided by rational policy‐making that followed the scientific evidence. Efforts to directly influence drinking culture and to encourage ‘responsible drinking’ have failed. Sharply increasing the price and restricting the availability of alcohol would be likely to have major benefits for the well being of the UK population.